Division I Women

Northwestern Rallies Past Ohio State in ALC

from press release

EVANSTON, Ill. -- If future Big Ten Conference
meetings between Northwestern and Ohio State are anything like the
last four they contested as members of the American Lacrosse
Conference, lacrosse fans everywhere are in for a treat.

For the fourth straight time, the 'Cats and Buckeyes played to a
one-goal outcome, this time a dramatic 9-8 Northwestern victory in
the semifinals of the 2014 ALC Tournament in Evanston. Trailing
well into the second half, NU relied heavily on the play of senior
leaders Alyssa Leonard and Christy Turner to secure their eighth
straight -- and last -- appearance in the ALC Tournament title
game.

As it has each year since 2011, Northwestern will once again face a
top-seeded Florida Gators squad in the championship matchup. NU,
which avenged a one-goal regular-season loss to Ohio State in the
semifinal, will attempt to do the same against the Gators at 11
a.m. CT Sunday (May 4) in Evanston.

Northwestern trailed 6-3 with less than 20 minutes remaining on the
clock, but in a span of just six and a half minutes managed to
score six of the next seven goals -- all courtesy of members of its
senior class -- to claim a 9-7 advantage with 12:22 to play.

Naturally, the game was far from decided at that point, and
remained in question right down to the final moments when Ohio
State's Cian Dobrowski was awarded a straight-on 8-meter attempt
with 18 seconds to play and the Buckeyes trailing by a goal. But
Dobrowski left her starting point prior to the referee's whistle,
resulting in a turnover and the end of Ohio State's ALC title
hopes.

In her 83rd career game played with the Wildcats, Turner netted her
first career hat trick on attack, while Leonard matched Turner's
three goals and added an assist and eight draw controls in the
victory. Northwestern controlled 10 of 11 draws after halftime to
spark its comeback and sustain momentum.